On January 14th, 2024, the 10km world record held by Kenyan runner Rhonex Kipruto will be challenged by a group of star athletes at the Valencia Ibercaja road race. Kipruto set the record in 2020 at the same event with a time of 26.24. Among the athletes attempting to break his record are Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, the reigning half marathon world record holder, and Dominic Lobalu, a runner from South Sudan. Richard Douma from the Netherlands and Pietro Riva from Italy have also confirmed their participation in the race.

In the women’s division, Agnes Jebet Ngetich from Kenya will lead the charge to break the current world record held by Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw. Yehualaw set the record at the 2022 Castellón 10K race with a time of 29:14, surpassing the previous record set by Kalkidan Gezahegne. Although Yehualaw was initially expected to compete alongside Ngetich, she had to withdraw due to a last-minute injury. Other notable runners who have held the women’s 10K world record in the past include Joyciline Jepkosgei and the late Agnes Tirop, both from Kenya. Jessica Chelangat, another Kenyan runner, was scheduled to compete but will not participate this year due to illness.

The Valencia Ibercaja road race is set to be an exciting event with strong contenders aiming to break the current world records held by Kipruto and Yehualaw. The athletes’ performances will determine whether these records will stand or if new champions will emerge.